National's plans to replace Three Waters with opt-in off-balance-sheet entities for councils' water assets is dead in the water without a Government guarantee, which Luxon & Brown have again ruled out
Tearing my hair out at the bullshit coming from National on this. Rating agencies and the market is going to punish us for this decision financially. With this, the unfundable tax cuts, cuts to the govt departments (despite the FTE growth being in line with population growth) that are affecting the workers not the senior leadership who are still the same ones making the same decisions as they have for the last 20-30 years as well as fueling more inflation and looking to be no interest rates cuts. National is doing a great job at breaking the myth that a vote from them means a vote for good economic governance
That's quite a photo, Lynn. It looks staged. At first glance I thought you had played around and created a composited photograph - an almost too cliché to be authentic apocalyptic scene.
Aro Street has never looked more Hollywood sci-fi.
Happy for this post to be opened to the public. We need informed discussion as National heaves another grenade into local government.
Chucking out Three Waters means all the fine work Kieran McAnulty did in meeting with every single council to understand their particular issues, together with the institutional knowledge accumulated by the Three Waters team, has been chucked into Wellington Harbour. Thus the wheel is endlessly reinvented.
I read somewhere - might have been here - that the international rating agencies were fine with central government debt, but not fine with local government debt. Is a fancy corporate structure (CCO) really going to fool anyone?
I think it would be great to open it up to the public as well. I did note that Spider Hoof made an excellent video on the new Govts so called 3 waters reform. It's on the platform formerly known as twitter. And yes, for my sins I am still on it. It is extremely interesting in terms of the dreadful situation playing out in real time in Gaza and Rafah.
The can will be kicked even further down the road. The required legislation will be passed mid 2025, but the implementation will be much longer. It will take the economic regulator a couple of years to gather information, set up the rules and make the decisions on the regulation it will apply and the limits it will set. The amount of work will be a lot more than they have ever done so expect resource constraints. They won't be able to copy paste the existing regulation applied to other network utilities without ensuring it plays nicely with the other legislation that applies to water.
Deeply cynical and utterly infuriating from the govt, but wonderfully explained Bernard. Open it up to the public! Also - a bond trader friend alerted me to the fact that Kainga Ora use non-govt backed bonds and it has worked ok aka they're building some houses with it, are you across this at all Bernard? Would be great to know your thoughts. Ka Pai for great journalism and great cicada backing music, the Kaka is worth every penny!
the last Labour government's water legislation was extremely bad and must be repealed.
the question is what is the best solution. the installation of water meters to all properties supplied with water by/from a reticulated water supply system is essential. Nelson city did this years ago and it has proved to be an excellent decision.
The elephant in the room is the ascent of Maori culture in the way of life of the average NZer. In my holiday travels, this was the most commonly expressed concern and justification for why my child-hood friends voted against the Labour Greens alliance. None voted FOR the right wing policies of the current bunch of weirdos running NZ, they voted AGAINST the Maori affirming policies of the old government. So claiming a mandate to dump such forward thinking policies as Three Waters is a tragic National party fantasy for which will all continue to pay. Sadly for the indigenous peoples of NZ, the long held Maori dream to see their culture inform the way of life for New Zealanders may have to wait a little longer ...until they have the numbers and political clout to permanently cement the place of Maori culture in the life of NZ.
I hesitate to correct the amazing journalism, however as an Aucklander this is facts I know.
1. Metro Water Ltd was incorporated on 30 June 1997 (863532). Worked as a Council owned organisation. There was confusion & resistance as management took over water control.
2. Water supply is part of rates payment by landowners & water meters were installed.
3. As a 'rate' it was included in calculating rent/mortgage assistance from Ministry of Social Welfare. However Min of SW in Wellington said not a 'rate'. It took a Appeal in June 2008 for Wellington to reverse decision, of course many had been short paid in the interim.
4. Water costs are paid by owners/landlords in Auckland.
There is a lengthy story of water control in Auckland, Waiheke had to argue that water rates unfair as use tank water.
I'm very keen for you to open the Kaka to public. You are providing an informed public service while the spin doctors work to deflect and nullify the real situations. I note that both Crisis Chris and Simple Simeion read their speeches. Thus proving the influence of insider wording.
As for the apparent impasse on water meters and lack of investment in the critical areas of water supply and disposal. I'm a retired water engineer, it seems to be a non sequitur that a government collage that pushes for user pays shies away from paying for water. In AKL we pay Watercare for every drop of water we use and pay 80% of that amount for water disposal.
It is the sensible and logical way forward.
Once again I observe the inability of our current local and central both elected
Keen to have this open up to the public.
Tearing my hair out at the bullshit coming from National on this. Rating agencies and the market is going to punish us for this decision financially. With this, the unfundable tax cuts, cuts to the govt departments (despite the FTE growth being in line with population growth) that are affecting the workers not the senior leadership who are still the same ones making the same decisions as they have for the last 20-30 years as well as fueling more inflation and looking to be no interest rates cuts. National is doing a great job at breaking the myth that a vote from them means a vote for good economic governance
That's quite a photo, Lynn. It looks staged. At first glance I thought you had played around and created a composited photograph - an almost too cliché to be authentic apocalyptic scene.
Aro Street has never looked more Hollywood sci-fi.
Happy for this post to be free to public
Happy for this post to be opened to the public. We need informed discussion as National heaves another grenade into local government.
Chucking out Three Waters means all the fine work Kieran McAnulty did in meeting with every single council to understand their particular issues, together with the institutional knowledge accumulated by the Three Waters team, has been chucked into Wellington Harbour. Thus the wheel is endlessly reinvented.
I read somewhere - might have been here - that the international rating agencies were fine with central government debt, but not fine with local government debt. Is a fancy corporate structure (CCO) really going to fool anyone?
Are NACT being advised by LIz Truss? They seem ignorant of the way financial markets work.
I think it would be great to open it up to the public as well. I did note that Spider Hoof made an excellent video on the new Govts so called 3 waters reform. It's on the platform formerly known as twitter. And yes, for my sins I am still on it. It is extremely interesting in terms of the dreadful situation playing out in real time in Gaza and Rafah.
The can will be kicked even further down the road. The required legislation will be passed mid 2025, but the implementation will be much longer. It will take the economic regulator a couple of years to gather information, set up the rules and make the decisions on the regulation it will apply and the limits it will set. The amount of work will be a lot more than they have ever done so expect resource constraints. They won't be able to copy paste the existing regulation applied to other network utilities without ensuring it plays nicely with the other legislation that applies to water.
Deeply cynical and utterly infuriating from the govt, but wonderfully explained Bernard. Open it up to the public! Also - a bond trader friend alerted me to the fact that Kainga Ora use non-govt backed bonds and it has worked ok aka they're building some houses with it, are you across this at all Bernard? Would be great to know your thoughts. Ka Pai for great journalism and great cicada backing music, the Kaka is worth every penny!
"Local water done nothing"
Feels like an expensive way to cross out all the Te Reo text in blue marker pen and wash your hands
Delivering deliverables
the last Labour government's water legislation was extremely bad and must be repealed.
the question is what is the best solution. the installation of water meters to all properties supplied with water by/from a reticulated water supply system is essential. Nelson city did this years ago and it has proved to be an excellent decision.
The government has real options to ensure good water infrastructure which it is ideologically blind to.
Such options as interest free or very low interest loans via the Reserve Bank.
Instead the government acts in the interests of the private financial vultures.
The elephant in the room is the ascent of Maori culture in the way of life of the average NZer. In my holiday travels, this was the most commonly expressed concern and justification for why my child-hood friends voted against the Labour Greens alliance. None voted FOR the right wing policies of the current bunch of weirdos running NZ, they voted AGAINST the Maori affirming policies of the old government. So claiming a mandate to dump such forward thinking policies as Three Waters is a tragic National party fantasy for which will all continue to pay. Sadly for the indigenous peoples of NZ, the long held Maori dream to see their culture inform the way of life for New Zealanders may have to wait a little longer ...until they have the numbers and political clout to permanently cement the place of Maori culture in the life of NZ.
Thank you Bernard. Please open it up to the public mate
I hesitate to correct the amazing journalism, however as an Aucklander this is facts I know.
1. Metro Water Ltd was incorporated on 30 June 1997 (863532). Worked as a Council owned organisation. There was confusion & resistance as management took over water control.
2. Water supply is part of rates payment by landowners & water meters were installed.
3. As a 'rate' it was included in calculating rent/mortgage assistance from Ministry of Social Welfare. However Min of SW in Wellington said not a 'rate'. It took a Appeal in June 2008 for Wellington to reverse decision, of course many had been short paid in the interim.
4. Water costs are paid by owners/landlords in Auckland.
There is a lengthy story of water control in Auckland, Waiheke had to argue that water rates unfair as use tank water.
Very happy for this post be opened to the public, in as many places as possible.
Kia ora Bernard.
I'm very keen for you to open the Kaka to public. You are providing an informed public service while the spin doctors work to deflect and nullify the real situations. I note that both Crisis Chris and Simple Simeion read their speeches. Thus proving the influence of insider wording.
As for the apparent impasse on water meters and lack of investment in the critical areas of water supply and disposal. I'm a retired water engineer, it seems to be a non sequitur that a government collage that pushes for user pays shies away from paying for water. In AKL we pay Watercare for every drop of water we use and pay 80% of that amount for water disposal.
It is the sensible and logical way forward.
Once again I observe the inability of our current local and central both elected